The Tauranga City Council was forced into a sudden about- face this week after it emerged that it had broken its own rules by flying the Silver Fern flag at the Elizabeth St roundabout.
The large flag, which had been flying on alternate days on the flagpole, was found to be inconsistent with the rules of the 2006 resource consent governing the use of the flagpole.
It's not the first time this issue has arisen. In 2011, the council flew a flag on the city's official flagpole in support of the All Blacks and was found to be in breach of its resource consent.
Former lawyer Rob Paterson, who was involved in the 2006 RMA application and consent of the flagpole, made a formal request in February for the council to "desist from flying the Silver Fern flag".
Subsequent legal advice sought by the council from lawyers Simpson Grierson revealed the official flagpole was limited to only flying the New Zealand national flag, with the resource consent excluding any other flag.